Fencing installation is setting fence posts into the ground, usually in concrete, and fixing panels or boards between them to mark a boundary, add privacy or keep children and pets in, with gates fitted where access is needed.
In Swanley, as anywhere in Kent, the price of new fencing and gates is driven mainly by size, materials and access. Across the South East our guide sits at £1,350–£3,400 with VAT, but restricted parking, a narrow side passage or extra preparation can move the figure either way. That is why every price we give follows a visit to the house.
- Guide price
- £1,350–£3,400 inc VAT
- Time on site
- 1–3 days for a typical garden
- Postcodes
- BR8
- Planning rules
- England
- Local area
- Kent
- Survey
- Free, with a written quote
What should you budget for new fencing and gates in Swanley?
Every figure below is a guide for new fencing and gates in Swanley, inclusive of VAT. Regional pricing for the South East works out about 12% above the national guide, and the overall span is £1,350–£3,400. The survey costs you nothing, and after it we commit to a firm price for your specification in writing.
| Type of job | What it usually involves | Guide in Swanley |
|---|---|---|
| Repairs or a short run | Replacing a few panels and posts, or a short run of up to about 6m. | £350–£1,000 |
| Typical garden boundary | About 20m of panel or closeboard fencing with concrete posts and gravel boards. | £1,350–£3,400 |
| Composite or long runs with gates | Composite or premium fencing, longer runs, or a driveway gate. | £3,400–£7,800 |
What moves the price up or down:
- Fence style and material: panels, closeboard or composite
- Post type: concrete, timber or aluminium
- Ground conditions, slopes and removal of the old fence
- Number, size and type of gates
What do you get?
- Measured survey of each fence run, levels and slopes
- Removal and disposal of the old fence and posts
- Concrete or timber gravel boards to keep panels off the soil
- Panels or boards fixed level or stepped to follow the ground
- Gates hung with hinges, latches and locks
- Site cleared and waste removed
Local housing and new fencing and gates
Kent's older buildings include oast houses, weatherboarded cottages, Wealden timber-framed houses and Kentish ragstone walls. Medway towns have long rows of Victorian terraces, Margate and Ramsgate have Regency and Victorian seafronts, and Ashford, Maidstone and Dartford have seen large new estates alongside interwar and post-war housing.
Victorian terraces suit loft rooms and rear extensions; weatherboarded and timber-framed buildings may need cladding repairs and lime work. Newer estate homes often take garage conversions, porches and landscaping.
That variety is why a guide price for new fencing and gates in Swanley is only a starting point; the survey shows what your particular property needs.
Do you need permission in Swanley?
Each UK nation sets its own consent rules, and Swanley is in England. What follows is a plain summary; we check the specifics for your property with the council before pricing anything.
In England, fences, walls and gates up to 2 m high are usually permitted development, or up to 1 m where they are next to a road used by vehicles or its footpath. Listed buildings, conservation areas and estates with planning conditions can be stricter.
Building Regulations do not apply to ordinary garden fences, but boundary lines should be agreed with your neighbour first.
Rules change and every property is different, so we check the planning history and constraints for your address before we quote.
The four stages
Survey and measure
It starts with a survey at the property, free of charge. We check condition, access and services, ask how you want the finished result to look, and answer any questions you have about new fencing and gates.
Quote in writing
After the survey we send a quote for new fencing and gates that fixes the price for the scope we've agreed. If you want to change materials or scope, we revise it in writing before anything is booked.
Getting ready
Next comes planning the work itself. We set a start date that suits you, line up the right trades, and make sure any approvals for new fencing and gates are in place before the first day on site.
Build and hand over
Work goes ahead as scheduled and you deal with one contact throughout. When the last trade leaves, we clear and clean the site, talk you through what has been done and pass on any certificates and care instructions.
Why homeowners choose us
Fencing and gates in Swanley: questions
Can I stay at home during the work?
In most cases, yes. Most people can live at home throughout, and we plan the work to keep disruption down by protecting floors, agreeing working hours and keeping access routes clear. Bigger jobs affecting kitchens, bathrooms or heating may mean a short spell with reduced facilities, and we talk this through with you at the survey.
Are concrete posts better than timber?
Concrete posts do not rot and are the most durable choice for panel fences, especially on exposed sites. They are heavier and more utilitarian in appearance. Timber posts look more natural and suit closeboard and featheredge fences, but they eventually rot at ground level, even when treated. Aluminium posts suit composite systems. We recommend posts based on your fence style and exposure.
How high can my fence be?
Fence height limits depend on planning rules, your home's location, whether it is listed or in a conservation area, and which UK nation you live in. In England, fences up to 2m high are usually permitted development, reduced to 1m next to a road used by vehicles. Higher fences need planning permission. We check the rules for your boundary before quoting.
Do you cover Bexley, Dartford and Welling?
Yes. As well as Swanley, we cover Bexley, Dartford and Welling and the rest of Kent. Our coverage is UK-wide, so the process is the same wherever you are: a free site survey, a quote in writing that fixes the price for the agreed scope, and one point of contact while the work is planned and carried out.
How much does a new fence cost?
About 20m of new panel or closeboard fencing with concrete posts costs £1,350–£3,400, including removal of the old fence. As a guide, allow roughly £55–£130 per metre plus a small fixed cost for removal and waste. Lap panels sit at the lower end, while closeboard, slatted and composite fencing cost more. Gates, slopes and hard ground add to the price. We confirm a fixed price after measuring.
Near Swanley
Live in Swanley? Our coverage takes in the BR8 postcode areas and reaches out to Bexley, Dartford and Welling, so homes on the outskirts and in the next town along are included.